Our Next Chapter at the Pritzker Military Museum and Library
Our Next Chapter at the Pritzker Military Museum and Library
By Scott English, President, Pritzker Military Museum & Library
When I first walked into the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, I felt what so many of you have told me you feel here: a sense that this place matters. The stories we tell are not just about military campaigns or famous leaders. They are about ordinary Americans who answered an extraordinary call: the Citizen Soldier.
That idea is what drew me here. It is what makes the PMML unique. Our mission is not only to preserve artifacts or tell war stories. It is to connect service to citizenship, to show how military experience shapes character, community, and the freedoms embedded in our republic.
As I begin my time as President, I want to share a simple vision: to expand beyond the museum walls, so people can engage with us year-round, wherever they are. Whether through digital exhibits, podcasts, classroom content, or social media, we will bring the stories of service and sacrifice to life every day to everyone near and far, not just when you walk through the door.
This next chapter also marks an important transition for the PMML. We are moving from a private foundation to a public charity, opening the door to a broader community of supporters who believe in our mission.
This change is more than a technical one. It means the PMML will now rely on a broader base of public support. Becoming a public charity brings with it the goal to expand programs, grow membership, and invite donors, partners, and communities to take a direct role in our mission. It reflects our commitment to transparency, sustainability, and shared ownership of the stories we preserve.
We want to honor the vision and legacy of our founder, LTC Jennifer Pritzker USA (RET), and ensure that her work to preserve the heritage of the citizen soldier will continue for generations to come. Sustainability will come from engaging the public, building partnerships, and inviting people everywhere to take part in our mission.
Our goal is to make storytelling the lead. Every object, photograph, and interview is part of a larger narrative about who we are as a nation and what we owe to those who served. We are going to amplify those stories.
But we also have to think bigger than storytelling. We need to measure our work by impact: how we teach, connect, and inspire. That means reaching students who have never met a veteran. It means helping visitors leave not just informed but changed. It means showing that citizenship is something you practice, not something you inherit.
To do that well, we need to listen to our members, supporters, and the communities we serve. We are launching a PMML Community Survey to better understand what inspires you, what brings you to our museum, and how we can serve both our visitors and the broader citizen soldier community. Whether you are a veteran, educator, historian, or first-time guest, your input will shape our next chapter.
Take a few minutes to share your perspective and help us make PMML a stronger, more connected institution.
Take the PMML Community Survey
And while you are helping us plan the future, join us this November as we celebrate it. We are hosting our first Liberty Bash in our new home in Kenosha, a celebration of service, history, and community. This year’s event will honor the 250th birthdays of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, and recognize the recipients of the 2025 Founder’s Award:
CAPT Chris Cassidy, USN (Ret.); COL Harvey “Barney” Barnum Jr., USMC (Ret.); and MG Brian Winski, USA (Ret.).
Your participation makes it possible for us to preserve history and inspire new generations. Tickets and sponsorships are available now.
We have a lot ahead of us: new programs, deeper partnerships, and a vision that makes the PMML a national leader in how America remembers and learns from its military. I am honored to lead that charge, and I am even more excited to do it with all of you.
Together, we will make sure the stories of the citizen soldier do not just live in our museum. They will live in our daily lives.
Scott English
President
Pritzker Military Museum & Library